He was born on November 5, 1920, at his maternal grandparent’s home in Rushville, the son of John Davis and Charlotte Mabel (Tucker) Ross. He married Rayetta Morgan on November 5, 1946, in Woodstock Township, Schuyler County, Illinois. She preceded him in death on November 12, 1996.

Surviving are three children Dorcas Wood and husband Steve of Macomb, John Ross and wife Rose and Phyllis Prentice and husband Stan all of Rushville, seven grandchildren Lori Thomas and husband Brian, Julie Ross and husband Joe Peck, Amanda VandeHoef and husband Ben, Joni Harper and husband Travis, Chad Prentice and wife Megan, Kristi Wiemelt and husband Ryan and Brant Ross Wood, 13 great grandchildren Jett, Archer, and Everley Wiemelt, Nathan, Natalie and Nicholas VandeHoef, Charlotte and Augustus Harper, Zane and Alistair Peck, Meredith, Luke and Reid Prentice, and a great grandson Wiemelt due shortly, two sisters Lela Tomlinson of Quincy and Ruth Diseron and husband Richard of Rushville, one brother Maurice Ross of Rushville, two sisters-in-law Frances Ross of Beardstown and Monna Belle Beadles of Rushville and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one brother Robert Ross, one sister Mabel E. Heath, sister-in-law Sonja Ross, brothers-in-law Russel Tomlinson, Joe Heath and Gerald Morgan, and nephew Rodney Diseron.

Byron served as a medic, stationed at Eglin Field, near Pensacola, Florida, with the Army Air Corps during WW II. He farmed for most of his life retiring in 2003, but he still kept up on the markets and happenings at the farm. He was a member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church near Rushville, Gideons International, and the Schuyler County Farm Bureau. He was a supporter of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

He enjoyed reading his Bible daily. He was also a people person, who was always interested in meeting new people. Once you were introduced, he showed genuine interest in what was happening in your life. He was devoted to his grandchildren and great grandchildren and loved them very much.

Services will be at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at the Wood Funeral Home in Rushville. Interment will follow in the Rushville City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at the Wood Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Culbertson Memorial Hospital Foundation or Gideons International.